It is important to address the fact that there is a large part of the loss community whose needs aren’t being met. Black mothers and infants are dying at disproportionately higher rates than those from different backgrounds.
We acknowledge that there is systemic racism in America. This means that institutional policies, practices, and laws are designed to create advantages for people who aren’t of color; and, as a consequence, creates disadvantages for people who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, or economically disadvantaged.
As Bryan Steveson, founder/executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative and creator of the film Just Mercy, says, “We have an opportunity to create a new America.” RTZ HOPE wants to be part of the solution and change the culture of pregnancy and infant loss by addressing racial inequity in accessing support services and resources after the death of a baby.
It’s time to examine implicit biases and understand what racism and racial equity mean to all of us, both as individuals and as an organization. We understand that this process will be uncomfortable for some, but we know that it’s okay to feel this way. Just as with grief, acknowledging and sitting with the discomfort of injustice expands our ability to change.
RTZ HOPE is committed to educating about and confronting the experience of systemic racism in our country by:
Exploring implicit biases by using specialized approaches
Watching films and expanding our reading list to include and celebrate Black, Indigenous, and People of Color's voices, experiences and perspectives
Sharing in open and honest dialogue
Actively engaging our board of directors and clinical advisory board to address racial disparities in health care
We recognize this is an ever-evolving process, and as an organization, we pledge to take additional steps to be actively anti-racist by:
Increasing awareness of systemic racism impacts on maternal health care
Creating opportunities for safe and open conversations about grieving and healing in the BIPOC community
Connecting with BIPOC owned nonprofits/support groups in the baby loss community and using the RTZ HOPE platform to raise their capacity and visibility
Funding a position to spearhead community engagement with BIPOC owned nonprofits in the baby loss community
Raising money dedicated to scholarships for BIPOC bereaved parents for retreats and other support
Increasing diversity on our board of directors and clinical advisory board
There are many aspects of pregnancy and infant loss that we cannot control, but equity and equality for all mothers and babies is something we can and should expect. We are dedicated to ensuring that RTZ HOPE remains a space that offers resources, education, and support in shattering the silence around not just pregnancy and infant loss but also the injustices that can lead to them.
